Q 01/05

Which Bavarian castle, dotted with swan motifs, did Ludwig II build in honour of Richard Wagner?

A) Neuschwanstein Castle

B) Hohenschwangau Castle

C) Herrenchiemsee Palace

D) Hohenzollern Castle

Answer · why

A) Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle was built so the shy king could withdraw from public life, yet it opened to the public seven weeks after he died in 1886.

Q 02/05

What is an adult male swan called?

A) A drake

B) A cob

C) A gander

D) A tom

Answer · why

B) A cob

The word comes from Middle English 'cobbe', leader of a group; the female is a pen.

Q 03/05

What is a group of swans called?

A) A gaggle or a skein

B) A murder or a parliament

C) A bevy or a wedge

D) A paddling or a raft

Answer · why

C) A bevy or a wedge

A bevy or a wedge: young tundra swans fly south in family groups and stay with their parents through their first winter.

Q 04/05

How many living species of true swan are there?

A) Six

B) Three

C) Twelve

D) Twenty

Answer · why

A) Six

The South American coscoroba swan carries the name but is no longer counted as a true swan.

Q 05/05

Swans belong to the same bird family as which birds?

A) Geese

B) Pelicans

C) Herons

D) Cranes

Answer · why

A) Geese

Geese: and each summer swans shed their flight feathers, so they cannot fly for weeks until new ones grow.